A prominent vegan entrepreneur has launched a campaign demanding that one of London's most exclusive fitness clubs install additional padel courts, citing immense frustration with the current booking system. Andy Shovel, who co-founded the plant-based meat company THIS, has expressed his exasperation with what he describes as the "miserable" daily experience of attempting to secure a court at the Chelsea Harbour Club in west London.
The Booking Struggle
Mr Shovel, a passionate padel player, has resorted to setting his alarm for 7:59 AM daily as a reminder to try and book a court when slots are released at 8:00 AM. Despite this meticulous routine, he frequently misses out on playing his favourite sport for days on end. "Playing padel is my passion outside of work," he stated. "Everyone there [at the club] who plays padel is getting a bit bored with it because they can't get a court."
A Prestigious Venue
The Chelsea Harbour Club is a renowned luxury gym with a storied history. It was a regular haunt for Princess Diana during the 1990s and has also counted Prince William and Princess Kate among its members. The club, which underwent a significant refurbishment in 2020, currently boasts three indoor padel courts alongside twelve indoor tennis courts. Former British tennis number one Laura Robson has been spotted playing at the venue.
Membership does not come cheap. The joining fee is believed to be around £2,000, with monthly prices ranging from £319 to £439. Mr Shovel confirmed he pays approximately £400 per month for his membership, which he took up 18 months ago primarily because it was the only local facility offering indoor heated courts suitable for winter play.
Launching a Petition
Fed up with the situation, Mr Shovel has started a petition directed at the club's owners, the David Lloyd Group. He argues that "demand... has outgrown the current facilities." In the petition, he elaborated on the shared frustration among members: "The day to day experience of booking courts has become quite a miserable one, consisting of setting alarms at 07:59, and still somehow missing out on booking a court for days of trying."
He further explained that for members who solely play padel, "the equation is no longer adding up." His campaign aims to encourage management to consider constructing more courts, acknowledging high demand for tennis but asserting that padel demand is demonstrably higher based on booking app data.
Considering Cancellation
The difficulty in securing court time has led Mr Shovel to contemplate cancelling his expensive membership. He sometimes faces a two-week wait for a booking and has to join other people's games just to play. "It will be great to see if management wants to build more padel courts, but [the membership] is quite expensive," he remarked. "There is no point paying for it if I can't do the thing that I want to do."
The Padel Phenomenon and Its Controversies
This dispute highlights the explosive growth of padel in the UK. Invented in Mexico in 1969, the fast-paced sport is a hybrid of tennis and squash, played with solid, stringless rackets and using the court walls. Its popularity has skyrocketed, with celebrities like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Stormzy endorsing or investing in the sport.
According to LTA Padel, there were 1,000 courts across 325 UK venues as of July 2025, a dramatic increase from just 68 in 2019. The number of players has surged from around 15,000 in 2019 to over 400,000.
Noise Complaints and Community Division
However, the sport's rapid expansion has not been without controversy, particularly in affluent areas. Residents in towns from Hampshire to Harrogate have complained about the noise generated by padel, often comparing the sound of the ball being struck to "gunshots." Some report being unable to enjoy their gardens due to the constant "thwacking" noise and occasional foul language from players.
In Winchester, Hampshire, residents like Jenni Chilvers, 76, have described a significant impact on their quality of life. "It has impacted on us quite seriously over the past three years. The noise is appalling," she said, noting disturbances from 7 AM until 9 PM. This has led to proposals for acoustic barriers at some clubs, dubbed by critics as resembling a "Great Wall of China."
Furthermore, the cost of the sport has become a point of criticism. Research indicates that while average off-peak court hire is about £30, peak prices can reach £80, potentially pricing out some enthusiasts.
The situation at the Chelsea Harbour Club encapsulates the growing pains of a sport caught between booming popularity and the practical limitations of existing facilities, sparking debates among paying members and local communities alike.
